Marvelous Marvin Hagler speaks out about the Sugar Ray Leonard fight ~ Listen In

I disagree with Marvin here. I think irrespective of who the champion is, the fight should be judged accordingly to what transpires over 12 rounds. I had Leonard up by a point, I can see how some people scored it otherwise. The big injustice in all this has how controversial the decision has been seen to be over the years. It was a fight that could have gone either way. Leonard got the nod. Considering his circumstances, it was a great achievement just to make it to the final bell.

 

I've heard Hagler say a lot of things eg Leonard ran away from him, or that the champ should always retain his title unless he gets beat up of KO'd. It's all BS.

The way he ended his career - in a very close and controversial fight against his long term rival who had avoided him for several years - you can understand his bitterness, but I do wish he'd give it a rest. And I'm a big Hagler fan by the way.

 

Well he's right about wanting SRL for all that time in getting the fight. He had to give up a lot. His eagerness probably cost him.

 

I agree with Hagler, after all Hagler had established himself as the long running undisputed champ and had a long distinguished reign as Middleweight champ. You have to give the close rounds to Hagler and give him the decision on such a close fight. Alternatively, if Leonard was the champ then you would have to give it to Leonard. Further, Leonard was a non-aggresor and ran away from Hagler the whole fight. I really can't see Leonard saying he was better than Hagler overall, but on this night it was too close to call and the deciding Judge gave the toss-up to the challenger.

 

Along with a shorter distance, I believe another concession Marv's camp allowed was the use of ten ounce gloves.

Regardless, Angelo Dundee was the perfect cheerleader in Ray's corner, pumping him up continuously, while the Petronellis behaved like undertakers to Hagler.

In Marv's draw with Antuofermo, his ten rounder with Geraldo, the 15 round decision over Duran, and then the showdown with SRL, he seemed to be lacking that mental edge usually prevalent. When under pressure, he didn't often perform at his best.

For Hagler and the Petronellis, Duran should have sent alarm lights spinning. Had that one been scheduled for 12 rounds, Duran would have beaten Ray to Marv's title, despite Hagler's better performance against Roberto. (Of course with Leonard, he seemed to be a detached sleepwalker. What I want to know is, what the hell the Petronellis were thinking while this was going on?)

 

This is exactly what I mean. The ring size, the gloves... he conceded all of this just to get at SRL.

 

It's pretty sad that all these years later he just can't let go and face facts. I'd like to see someone ask him straight up, or better yet actually sit down and watch the fight with him, and ask Hagler to explain how he thinks he won any of the first 4 rounds, for starters. Then, watch him follow Leonard around the ring and not get his punches off like he should be.

Leonard may not have hurt Hagler, Haglers face may not have been marked, but so what? Fact is he landed alot of shots whether they hurt Hagler or not. And Leonards ring generalship that night was better than Marvins, and I beleive thats what won him the day in the end.

 

I haven't had the chance to listen yet, but let me go out on a limb and assume he remains bitter about it and thinks he was robbed and gives Leonard absolutely zero credit for a remarkable effort?

 

Pretty much.

 

Translation: Leonard was a better boxer and athlete, I couldn't land on him and he beat me to the punch time and again, I Marvin Hagler concede I lost to the better boxer on the night

 

Marv should be asked why Ray was still on his feet at the end of 12. He saw how SRL performed against Kevin Howard, so he had to have been fully aware of how he'd have to catch him to win.

The decision to start off boxing from an orthodox stance was simply batty. Ray just got inside his head and stayed there.